The effect of pH upon the copper and cupric ion concentrations in soil solutions

Soil samples whose pH had been adjusted to between 4.5 and 7.5 either for long periods in the field or short periods in the laboratory were incubated after wetting with water or 0.01 m CaCl₂. Copper concentrations in the soil solutions decreased only slightly as the solution pH increased, but free cupric ion concentrations decreased considerably. The copper concentrations were smaller and the proportion of copper present in solution as cupric ion at a given pH was larger when CaCl₂ rather than water was used. Complexed organic species made up most of the copper in all solutions. The duration of pH adjustment did not affect these results. Copper adsorption isotherms were determined on the soils using low equilibrium solution concentrations. As a given copper concentration the quantity of copper adsorbed increased and the proportion of copper in solution present as cupric ion decreased with pH increase; again the duration of pH adjustment did not affect the results.     

Influence of Jet‐Cooking Prowashonupana Barley Flour on Phenolic Composition,Antioxidant Activities,and Viscoelastic Properties

The objective was to study the influence of jet‐cooked Prowashonupana barley flour on total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, water‐holding capacities, and viscoelastic properties. Barley flour was jet‐cooked without or with pH adjustment at 7, 9, or 11. Generally, the free phenolic content and antioxidant activity decreased after jet‐cooking, while the bound phenolic content and antioxidant significantly increased regardless of pH. Detectable levels of gallic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and p‐coumaroyl‐pentose in the jet‐cooked barley flour hydrolysates along with vitexin were found among 21 phenolics by LC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF‐MS analysis. Jet‐cooking at an elevated pH resulted in increased pasting viscosities. The oil content was decreased after jet‐cooking and continued to decrease with increased pH values. Jet cooking dramatically increased water holding capacity from 179% for unprocessed flour to 643% for jet‐cooked flour without pH adjustment, and water‐holding capacity was greatly increased to 914% by jet‐cooking at pH 11. The combination of jet‐cooking and pH adjustment had tremendous influence on water‐holding and pasting properties. This increase in functionality should contribute to food applications such as bakery and frozen products because of the release of the bound phenolic content, antioxidant activities, and improved water‐holding and pasting abilities.     

Absorption and emission of CO2 by ponded water of a paddy field

In the daytime, the CO₂ concentration in the air close to the water surface of a ponded paddy field was lowest and it increased with the distance above the water surface, while an inverse relation was observed in the nighttime. On the other hand, the pH of the ponded water changed significantly throughout a day and was expected to affect atmospheric CO₂ in the vicinity of the water surface, because the solubility of CO₂ in water depends on the pH. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the changes in the pH of the ponded water and the response of the CO₂ concentration in the air above the water. The pH of the ponded water of the paddy field increased in the daytime and decreased in the nighttime, so that the water was alkaline in the daytime and weakly acidic in the nighttime. We found that the daily changes in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration gradient almost corresponded to the daily changes in pH. The increase of the pH of the ponded water in the daytime was due to the absorption of dissolved CO₂ by photosynthetic bacteria and micro-algae within the ponded water. Furthermore, we compared the pH with RpH, defined as the pH at which the CO₂ concentration of the water is in equilibrium with that of the air, to determine whether CO₂ was absorbed by or emitted from the ponded water. In the daytime, the pH value of the ponded water was higher than that of the RpH, and the water could therefore absorb CO₂ , whereas during the nighttime, since the pH value of the ponded water was lower than that of the RpH, the water was expected to emit CO₂. These results show that the ponded water absorbed CO₂ from the air above the water surface in the daytime and emitted CO₂ in the nighttime.     

Time and Ph-Dependent Detoxification of Aluminum in Mixing Zones between Acid and Non-Acid Rivers

Liming detoxifies aluminum in a time-dependent process following the increase in pH. Transformation of Ali into non-reactive or colloidal forms of Al reduces toxicity. To investigate the effects of pH on the detoxification rate, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr were exposed in four identical channel-tank setups differing only in mixing ratio (30:70, 16:84 or 6:94) between acid (pH 5.6, total Ali 90 µg Al·L^?1) and non-acid water (pH 6.3, total Ali 3 µg Al·L^?1). Two channels had identical mixing ratio (30:70), but differed with respect to pH (6.0 or >6.4) due to addition of lime. Fish were exposed for 140 hrs. in waters aged from 1 minute and up to 4 hours after mixing. Ali decreased within minutes after mixing at pH 6.4. The detoxification process required hours at pH 6.0. Al accumulation onto fish gills and fish homeostasis was related to Ali. The data suggest that the detoxification process, and therefore the water body affected by ongoing polymerization, was strongly influenced by pH, where a pH target for liming set at pH 6.4 detoxified water faster than a pH target of pH 6.0.     

A Comparison of Water Treatment Sludge and Red Mud as Adsorbents of As and Se in Aqueous Solution and Their Capacity for Desorption and Regeneration

The adsorption of As(III), As(V), Se(IV) and Se(VI) by seawater neutralized red mud and alum water treatment sludge was investigated and compared using the batch adsorption technique. For water treatment sludge, adsorption of As(V), Se(IV) and Se(VI), at equimolar concentrations of added metalloid, declined with increasing pH. The decline was rapid above pH?4.0 for Se(VI), above pH?5.0 for Se(IV) and above pH?6.0 for As(V). Adsorption of As(III) increased with increasing pH up to pH?9.0 and then declined. For red mud, adsorption of As(V), Se(IV) and Se(VI) showed a maximum at about pH?5.0 and for As(III) adsorption remained relatively constant over the pH range 2.0?C10.0 after which it declined. Water treatment sludge removed 50?% or more of solution As(V) between pH?2.0 and 10.8, Se(IV) between 2.0 and 8.9, Se(VI) between 2.0 and 5.8 and As(III) between 8.4 and 10.9. By contrast, red mud showed less than 25?% adsorption of added Se(VI) and As(III) over the entire pH range tested (2.0?C12.0) and reached 50?% or more for As(V) only over the pH range 4.0?C6.9 and for Se(IV) between pH?4.3 and 5.6. At pH?5.0, adsorption of As(III) and Se(IV) was better described by the Langmuir than Freundlich equation but the reverse was the case for As(V) and Se(VI). Kinetic data for adsorption of all four oxyanions onto both adsorbents correlated well with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggesting the process involved was chemisorption. NaOH was more effective at removing adsorbed metals from both adsorbents than HNO₃. Water treatment sludge maintained its As(III) and Se(IV) adsorption capability at greater than 70?% of that added over eight successive cycles of adsorption/regeneration using 0.5?M NaOH as a regenerating agent. By contrast, for red mud, As(V) adsorption capacity declined very rapidly after three adsorption/desorption cycles and that for Se(IV) it decreased progressively with increasing numbers of cycles. It was concluded that water treatment sludge is a suitable material to develop as a low-cost adsorbent for removal of heavy metal oxyanions from wastewater streams.     

连续施用酸化粪水对土壤养分淋溶及重金属累积的影响

为探索连续施用酸化粪水对土壤养分淋溶及重金属累积情况的影响,采用新鲜粪水和酸化粪水,开展土柱淋溶试验。试验分别设置1个对照组、新鲜粪水和3个不同pH值（6.5、6.0和5.5）的酸化粪水,每个处理分别设置6次粪水淋溶。结果表明：施用新鲜粪水和酸化粪水均能增加土壤养分,施用新鲜粪水、pH值6.5、pH值6.0和pH值5.5的粪水后土壤总养分（N、P、K）的增长幅度分别为1%～40%、15%～66%和5%～21%,重金属Cu和Zn的增长幅度为4%～48%和4%～11%,重金属Cd和Pb的增长幅度为2%～14%和1%～18%;连续施用酸化粪水会使土壤pH降低、土壤电导率值升高以及土壤重金属不断累积,这也是导致土壤环境遭到破坏的风险因素,实际应用过程中应特别注意;建议每两季作物施用一次pH值为6.5的粪水;每三季作物施用一次pH值为6.0的粪水;每四季作物施用一次pH值为5.5的粪水。该研究通过对比分析连续施用新鲜粪水和不同pH值的酸化粪水后土壤养分和重金属浓度的变化,探讨了酸化粪水的还田效果,为连续施用酸化粪水的研究提供技术支撑。     

滨海盐土灌水脱盐动态的土壤质地和水质差异性研究

通过在天津滨海新区的野外灌水脱盐试验,对比分析了灌溉淡水、中水和微咸水的中壤质、重壤质土和粘土土壤含盐量及pH的动态变化。结果表明,粘质滨海盐土经灌淡水后的土壤全盐量降低是逐渐的;重壤质滨海盐土的土壤全盐变化趋势与粘质土相似,最初4次灌水使各层土壤全盐累积降幅较大;中壤质滨海盐土则第一次灌水后土壤含盐量降低较多,表层（0～20cm）由1.75%降到0.511%,以后灌溉土壤全盐量降低得较缓慢,20～40cm土层的含盐量始终降低得较缓慢。灌溉淡水、中水、微咸水均能使土壤全盐量降低,灌溉中水、微咸水后表层和土体下层土壤的含盐量均逐渐降低,而灌溉淡水的表层土壤全盐量以初次降低明显,土体下层的土壤全盐量始终变化幅度较小。同灌淡水的情况下,中壤质滨海盐土的土壤pH较为稳定,在7.5～8.5范围,而重壤质和粘土在最初表现下降,至约7.5后上升到8.5～9.0范围,质地越粘土壤pH越高。灌溉淡水、中水、微咸水均使土壤pH有升高的趋势,灌溉淡水后表层土壤pH能够上升到9.0,灌溉微咸水、中水后土壤pH能够升高至8.5左右。     

连续解吸中离子强度对可变电荷土壤和高岭石体系pH的影响

研究了两种可变电荷土壤中在去离子水中和0.1 mol L-1 Na NO3溶液中吸附铜离子和钙离子后依次被浓度从低到高的Na NO3溶液连续解吸时,离子强度变化对每次解吸前后体系p H变化(Δp H)的影响,为了进一步了解其相关机理,作为对照,也研究了各种条件下,离子强度变化对高岭石Δp H的影响。结果表明,无论是否有吸附性二价阳离子的存在,或者吸附性阳离子属性(专性吸附型离子或电性吸附型离子)如何,当样品依次被去离子水、0.01 mol L-1 Na NO3、0.1 mol L-1 Na NO3以及1 mol L-1 Na NO3解吸时,在去离子水中和Na NO3溶液中的解吸过程对Δp H的影响截然不同。总体而言,如果解吸时体系离子强度趋于降低,Δp H将为正值,反之则为负值,且Δp H变幅开始增大时的起始点所对应的p H吸附基本相同,该起始点应该与高岭石ZPC(电荷零点)紧密相关。对上述结果的分析表明,解吸过程中,引起上述Δp H变化规律的根本原因之一是连续解吸过程中的离子强度变化导致的可变电荷表面的表面电位变化。     

Properties of aged montmorillonite-wheat gluten composite films

The properties of new and aged glycerol-plasticized vital wheat gluten films containing < or =4.5 wt % natural or quaternary ammonium salt modified montmorillonite clay were investigated. The films were cast from pH 4 or pH 11 ethanol/water solutions. The films, aged for < or =120 days, were characterized by tensile testing, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, water vapor permeability (11% relative humidity) and the content of volatile components were measured. The large reduction in the water vapor permeability with respect to the pristine polymer suggests that the clay platelets were evenly distributed within the films and oriented preferably with the platelet long axis parallel to the film surface. The film prepared from pH 11 solution containing natural clay was, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, almost completely exfoliated. This film was consequently also the strongest, the stiffest, and the most brittle and, together with the pH 11 film containing modified clay, it also showed the greatest decrease in water vapor permeability. The large blocking effect of the clay had no effect on the aging kinetics of the films. During aging, the pH 4 and pH 11 film strength and the pH 4 film stiffness increased and the pH 4 film ductility decreased at the same rate with or without clay. This suggests that the aging was not diffusion rate limited, that is, that the loss of volatile components or the migration of glycerol or glycerol/wheat gluten phase separation was not limited by diffusion kinetics. The aging rate seemed to be determined by slow structural changes, possibly involving protein denaturation and aggregation processes.     

Preparation and Solubility of Phosphorylated β-Cyclodextrins

β-Cyclodextrin (CD) was phosphorylated with phosphoryl chloride in aqueous alkaline media at different temperatures and pH values. The phosphorylated cyclodextrin (PCD) were characterized by phosphorus contents and positions of substitution as determined by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Reaction of CD with equivmolar POCl₃ for 3 hr at pH 12 and 45°C yielded in a PCD with a phosphorus content of 5.67%. The ratio of monoand diphosphate esters increased when the reaction temperature was raised from 25 to 60°C. The monoesterified phosphate groups were mainly located at C-6 of the anhydroglucose units when the reaction pH was 11 or 12. Reactions at pH 10, however, led to a higher degree of substitution at C-2 than at C-6. Phosphorylation enhanced the water solubility of CD. Solubility of a PCD (5.65% phosphorus) was 35% at pH 8 and 25°C. Simultaneously, solubility of the PCD in 25% ethanol in water was much greater than unsubstituted CD (22.3 vs. 2.8%). The PCD enhanced the water solubility of nonpolar compounds, such as β-carotene.     

Growth of bedding plants and poinsettias in mineral wool and mineral wool/peat substrates

Abstract

Studies were conducted to ascertain the suitability of mineral wool (MW), either alone or in combination with sphagnum peat moss, as a substrate for potted greenhouse plants. Two types of hydrophyllic mineral wools, cleaned mineral wool (CMW) and uncleaned mineral wool (UMW), were used. Unamended CMW had a low bulk density, excellent water holding capacity, good aeration, but a high pH. Once peat moss was added to the CMW, bulk density remained low, water holding capacity remained good, and the pH dropped to a more suitable level. Unamended UMW had a high bulk density, good water holding capacity, poor aeration, and a high pH. Once peat moss was added to UMW, bulk density decreased, water holding capacity remained good, aeration increased, and the pH decreased to a more optimal level. CMW and UMW, were used unamended, as well as amended with 25%, 50%, and 75% peat moss. Two bedding plants, Impatiens walleriana ’Dazzler Violet’ and Begonia semperflorens ’Whiskey’ were grown for six and nine weeks respectively, and Euphorbia pulcherrima ’Glory’ was grown for 20 weeks, in nine different substrates. Plants grown in unamended CMW and UMW were generally smaller in size and lower in fresh weight than plants grown in 50% MW/50% peat moss. The plants grown in MW with either 25% or 75% peat moss were similar in size and weight to plants grown in 50% MW/50% peat moss. Plant tissue analysis showed that generally plants were receiving adequate nutrition.     

Water Quality Dependent Recovery from Aluminum Stress in Atlantic Salmon Smolt

In Norway, a variable pH target (pH 6.2–6.4 during most of the year, but 6.4 during the smoltification period) is used to reduce the cost of liming salmon rivers. Here we test the adequacy of this liming strategy. Atlantic salmon presmolts exposed to sublethal acidic water (pH 5.9, <25 µg Ali·L^?1) for more than 3 months showed impaired sewater tolerance, elevated gill-Al concentrations, severe gill tissue changes, elevated blood plasma glucose concentrations, but no effect on blood plasma chloride. It is usually assumed that smolt will recover from prior aluminum (Al) exposure if water quality is restored. Recovery rate is here used as an indirect measure of water quality improvements achieved after treating acid water (pH 5.8, 85 µg Ali·L^?1) with lime to reach pH-target levels of 6.0 – 6.3. Fish were exposed in a channel-tank set-up for >210 hrs in water aged from 1 minute up to 2 hours after treatment (in a flow through system). More Al was eliminated from the gills when the fish were exposed to pH 6.3 than to pH 5.8 or 6.0, and when water was aged after pH increase. Recovery, defined as return of normal gill morphology, blood homeostasis and establishment of seawater tolerance was achieved within 210 hrs in channels treated with lime to pH 6.3, while a similar recovery was not obvious at lower pH values. Liming to pH 6.3 detoxified Al better than pH 6.1.     

蚕豆蛋白的提取及NaCl浓度和pH值对其溶解性和乳化性的影响

蚕豆蛋白富含微量元素和人体必需的8种氨基酸,具有较高的开发价值。采用超声提取和水提取的方法提取蚕豆蛋白,研究了NaCl浓度和pH对蚕豆蛋白提取率、沉淀、功能性的影响。在pH值为8～12,超声提取和水提取均有较高的提取率。蚕豆蛋白的等电点在pH4.0～4.2之间。在pH4溶解性和乳化性最低,pH值在4～12时溶解性和乳化性随pH值的升高而升高, pH值为12时溶解性和乳化性最高。NaCl浓度从0 到 1.0 mol/L,溶解性和乳化性升高;当NaCl浓度继续增加,在pH 4、pH 7溶解性和乳化性随之下降。在相同的NaCl浓度和pH值时,超声提取比水提取蛋白的溶解性和乳化性高。该研究为蚕豆蛋白的提取工艺的确定及其在食品中的应用提供依据。     

Comparison and modelling of extraction methods to assess agronomic effectiveness of fertilizer zinc

Total Zn in fertilizer is a poor predictor of Zn availability in granular fertilizers. In this study, we compared different extraction methods using Zn fertilizers for which the agronomic effectiveness had previously been determined. Sixteen fertilizers were extracted by eight different procedures using five extractant solutions: water, 1 M ammonium acetate (pH 7.0), 74 mM EDTA (pH 7.0), 5 mM DTPA + 0.1 M MES (pH 6.2), and 0.12 M bis‐tris (pH 6). Modelling of Zn solubility and speciation was carried out with a chemical speciation program (Visual Minteq). The predicted solubilities were in good agreement with the observations, indicating chemical equilibrium. The three methods using pure water were highly correlated with each other and showed the strongest correlation with agronomic effectiveness (r = 0.81–0.90). The methods using extractants with strong pH buffering or high chelating capacity showed no or weak correlation with the agronomic effectiveness. Thus, water‐only based methods give the best indication of the availability of Zn in granular fertilizers, and are best suited for regulation or labeling of available Zn in fertilizer.     

Efficiency and protective effect of encapsulation of milk immunoglobulin G in multiple emulsion

Milk immunoglobulin G (IgG), separated with protein G affinity chromatography, and IgG in colostral whey were encapsulated by 0.5% (w/v) of Tween 80, sucrose stearate, or soy protein, which were used as secondary emulsifiers in the water in oil in water type multiple emulsion. The residual contents of separated IgG and IgG in colostral whey, ranging from 58.7 to 49.7% and from 13.2 to 21.3%, respectively, in the inner water phase (water phase surrounded by oil phase) with emulsifiers were determined by ELISA. However, the emulsion stability decreased after 24 h, and the residual IgG content in the inner water phase was lowered. Encapsulation of IgG in the multiple emulsion increased the stability of separated IgG against acid (pH 2.0) and alkali (pH 12.0) by 21-56% and 33-62%, respectively, depending on the emulsifier used. Moreover, multiple emulsion also provided a remarkable protective effect on separated IgG stability against proteases. The residual contents of separated IgG in multiple emulsion, using Tween 80 as secondary emulsifier, incubated for 2 h with pepsin (pH 2.0) and trypsin and chymotrypsin (pH 7.6) (enzyme/substrate = 1/20) were 35.4, 72.5, and 82.3%, whereas those of separated IgG in enzyme solution were only 7.2, 33. 1, and 35.2%, respectively. However, the separated IgG loss during the preparation of multiple emulsion was almost 41-50%.     

Factors affecting the dissolution and degradation of oriental mustard-derived sinigrin and allyl isothiocyanate in aqueous media

Sinigrin, the predominant glucosinolate in the oriental mustard Brassica juncea, is mainly degraded upon the enzymatic action of myrosinase under normal conditions to give allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in an aqueous media. Because AITC is considered to be the principal nematicidal ingredient in B. juncea, its stability in aqueous media is an important issue in achieving efficient nematode control. Pure sinigrin and AITC were found to be relatively stable in buffered water in the pH range of 5.00-7.00 but less stable at pH 9.00. Both sinigrin and AITC were more stable in soil water (supernatant of a 1:1 water/air-dried soil mixture) than in buffered water at the same pH range of 5.00-9.00. Sinigrin dissolved from the mustard bran or ground seed into water very quickly and was degraded by codissolved myrosinase to AITC. The AITC that formed from the degradation of sinigrin was found to be more stable in the soil water than in the buffered water. Buffer capacity was considered to be one of the factors that contributed to the stabilization of AITC in the soil water, but other unknown factors from both bran or seed and soil may also have contributed to the stabilization.     

疏浚深度和光照对海河表层沉积物氮磷释放的实验研究

采用混合均匀的海河表层底泥并以自来水为上覆水进行室内沉积物氮、磷静态释放模拟实验,研究了疏浚深度和光照对沉积物总磷和氨氮释放的影响。结果表明,实验期间（2007年7月20日至2008年1月8日）,无论光照与否,与未疏浚相比,完全疏浚能使上覆水总磷平均浓度从0．27～0．41mg·L^-1显著降低至0．02～0．03mg·L^-1（P〈0．05）,但疏浚深度对上覆水氨氮浓度无显著性影响（乃0．05）。与避光组相比,光照可使部分疏浚组和未疏浚组上覆水总磷平均浓度分别降低0．05和0．26mg·L^-1,但对沉积物氨氮释放的影响不明显（光照组氨氮浓度略高于避光组）。其余水质指标监测结果表明,光照组的水温、电导率均值比避光组分别高约0-3℃和20μs,光照组和避光组的pH值无显著差别。此外无论光照与否,电导率均随疏浚深度的增加逐渐降低,pH值变化与疏浚深度关系不大。     

Case Study of the Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Active and Reserve Soil Acidity

Excessive soil acidity and low soil pH may liberate plant toxic levels of manganese and aluminum from soil minerals, and interfere with nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Active soil acidity is measured as soil pH and reacts quickly in the soil-plant system. Potential or reserve acidity is inactive in the soil, and acts as a source of replenishment for active acidity. Studies to determine the effect of ammoniacal-nitrogen fertilizer treatments and irrigation methods on plant growth and development of cotton, and changes in soil properties were conducted. Nitrogen treatments ranged from 0 to 168.0 kg N/ha in 33.6-kg N/ha increments. Soil samples from each N-treatment from both irrigation blocks were analyzed for active and potential acidity. Irrigation water high in Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and HCO^3? tended to raise soil pH. Under dry land conditions ammonical N-fertilizer lowered soil pH. Reserve acidity was larger under dry land conditions than under furrow irrigation. No significant differences in reserve soil acidity were observed under furrow irrigation, or under dry land conditions. Calcium, Na⁺, and HCO^3? content of the irrigation water were driving forces to reduce both active and potential soil acidity. Fertilization with ammoniacal-nitrogen sources was the driving force in increasing active and potential soil acidity.     

Influence of pH on Structure and Function of Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) Protein Isolates

Structural and functional properties of two amaranth protein isolates as a function of pH were studied. Isolates, A9 and A11, were obtained by alkaline extraction at pH 9 and 11, respectively. Gel filtration chromatograms of A9 and A11 showed similar profiles. The A11 isolate contained mainly albumins and globulins, and a small proportion of globulin‐P aggregates, suggesting the presence of species with a higher degree of denaturation compared to A9. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that A9 was characterized by two thermal transitions (65.8 and 98°C); A11 exhibited only a small endotherm (66.6°C) and a second, less defined one. DSC analysis of A9 at pH 2–4 did not show endotherms, but at pH 5, some protein structures were observed. A11 showed a greater degree of denaturation. FPLC results showed that the proteins in A9 are more folded and their conformation is closer to the native state than those in A11, which are more unfolded due to pH‐mediated denaturation, mainly in acid media. The surface hydrophobicity of the isolates in acid media was lower than in alkaline media. The fluorescence emission spectra of the isolates showed differences in acidic pH conditions. As expected, the highest solubility was at alkaline pH. The water‐holding capacity was similar for both isolates. The water‐imbibing capacity and speed of foaming was higher for A11 than for A9. In summary, intense pH treatment of amaranth isolates generated partial or total protein denaturation and differences in the functional properties.     

Sorption and mobility of 14C-labeled imazaquin and metolachlor in four soils as influenced by soil properties

Aqueous batch-type sorption-desorption studies and soil column leaching studies were conducted to determine the influence of soil properties, soil and suspension pH, and ionic concentration on the retention, release, and mobility of [14C]imazaquin in Cape Fear sandy clay loam, Norfolk loamy sand, Rion sandy loam, and Webster clay loam. Sorption of [14C]metolachlor was also included as a reference standard. L-type sorption isotherms, which were well described by the Freundlich equation, were observed for both compounds on all soils. Metolachlor was sorbed to soils in amounts 2-8 times that of imazaquin, and retention of both herbicides was related to soil organic matter (OM) and humic matter (HM) contents and to herbicide concentration. Metolachlor retention was also related to soil clay content. Imazaquin sorption to one soil (Cape Fear) increased as concentration increased and as suspension pH decreased, with maximum sorption occurring in the vicinity of pK(a1) = (1.8). At pH levels below pK(a1) imazaquin sorption decreased as hydronium ions (H3O+) increased and competed for sites. NaCl was more effective than water in desorption of imazaquin at pH levels near the pK(a1). Mechanisms of bonding are postulated and discussed. The mobility of imazaquin through soil columns was in the order Rion > or = Norfolk > Cape Fear > or = Webster, whereas for metolachlor it was Rion > or = Norfolk > Webster > or = Cape Fear. Imazaquin was from 2 to 10 times as mobile as metolachlor.